Global: Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi declares, ” assistance will arrive, we will soon reclaim Iran,” amid ongoing demonstrations

Global: Over the weekend, Iran’s protests entered their second week. Reza Pahalavi, the exiled Iranian Crown Prince, has been an outspoken advocate for the protesters, supporting what he calls a national uprising against the Islamic Republic.

The crown prince commended demonstrators for what he described as “million-strong demonstrations” that have rocked the Iranian government in a recent post on X.

“Dear oppressed Iran, my brave compatriots, in the past two weeks, especially in the last four days, you have shaken the foundations of the illegitimate regime of the Islamic Republic with your million-strong demonstrations,” he said in a video statement posted on X. I now declare another phase of the national uprising to topple the Islamic Republic and retake our beloved Iran, depending on your millions of people’s reaction to the appeals of the previous few days as well as the legitimacy and popularity I have gained from you. In Iran, all organizations and machinery in charge of the regime’s deceptive propaganda and communication disruption are seen as valid targets, in addition to taking and controlling the main thoroughfares of cities. Employees of the government, military, and security services have the choice to either stand with the people and support the country, or they may choose to collude with the country’s killers and purchase their own everlasting humiliation and curse.

Speaking to Iranians living overseas, he said that Iranian embassies and consulates should fly the Iranian national flag instead of the Islamic Republic’s since they are owned by the people.All Iranian embassies and consulates outside of Iran are owned by the Iranian people, and it is time for them to fly the Iranian national flag rather than the deplorable Islamic Republic banner. We are about to take back our beloved Iran from the Islamic Republic. You have delivered Khamenei and his government a number of severe blows, and we must not let them to recover. The dictatorship is severely lacking in repressive troops, and the increasing firing at the populace is a result of fear of a quicker collapse and fall rather than a lack of mercenaries. No more of our young people’s blood will be spilled on the ground by these criminals. We’ll deny them the chance. We’re not going back. Iran will soon be free. Iran’s eternal children’s blood poured on the earth leads us to triumph. We’re not by ourselves. International aid is also on the way. Await my next communications. We shall celebrate freedom and triumph across Iran and soon retake our beloved country from the Islamic Republic,” he said.

The growing crisis has prompted cautious responses from world leaders. Earlier on Monday (local time), UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized that the rights to freedom of speech, association, and peaceful assembly “must be fully respected” and “protected” and asked Iranian authorities to “exercise maximum restraint” in the face of the country’s upheaval.

As demonstrations calling for freedom continue to spread across Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his nation is “closely monitoring” the situation there.Netanyahu expressed strong support for the fight against “tyranny” by the Iranian people.

Protests over rising prices and economic hardship started on December 28 but quickly turned into tense countrywide unrest with deadly skirmishes between protestors and security personnel.

Authorities have responded to the protests by making arrests, conducting crackdowns, and using force in some places. Concerns over the number of fatalities and the handling of demonstrators have been brought up again and again by human rights organizations.

While claiming that justifiable economic complaints would be resolved, Iranian officials have attributed the disturbance to “rioters” and foreign meddling. Following fatal demonstrations, US sources informed CNN that President Trump is considering a number of military options in Iran after cautioning Tehran against using deadly force on protesters.